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Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise

Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise

Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise

This programme is designed to meet the needs of graduates who wish to start their own business as well as those who want to learn about entrepreneurship, innovation and business enterprise management in an existing business. Students in the programme will not only be focused on creating new business ventures, but will also have a willingness and commitment to learn about new enterprise creation and development from theoretical and research based perspectives. 

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Key Details
Invercargill
Qualification:
Postgraduate Diploma
Level:
8
Credits:
186
Duration:

18 months full-time,

Part-time study is available

Study Modes:
On Campus
Dates:

Intakes: 21 February, 20 June and 17 October
Fees:

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

  • No tuition fees
  • Direct material costs of $614 (Stage 1) + $1091 (Stage 2) (GST inclusive)

International Fees can be found here.

Please note: due to changes implemented by the government, students are no longer entitled to receive student allowances for level 8 qualifications.  Any queries regarding Studylink allowances, loans, and terms and conditions should be made directly to Studylink on 0800 88 99 00 or www.studylink.govt.nz.

This programme is designed to meet the needs of graduates who wish to start their own business as well as those who want to learn about entrepreneurship, innovation and business enterprise management in an existing business. Students in the programme will not only be focused on creating new business ventures, but will also have a willingness and commitment to learn about new enterprise creation and development from theoretical and research based perspectives. 

Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise (186 Credits)

GBE.801 Business Enterprise Management (10 credits)

This paper aims to build on the principles, theory and practice of innovation and new venture development by providing students with a detailed and particularised overview of the business enterprise and innovation sector within the contemporary New Zealand economy.  It also seeks to provide students with the opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to establish a new business enterprise and operate it successfully in a competitive commercial environment, and gain an assured understanding of the purpose, nature and processes of developing a business model and plan.

GBE.802 Entrepreneurship and Innovation (10 credits)

The aim of this paper is to provide students with a detailed understanding of the principles, theory and practice of enterprise and new venture development; an awareness of and the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills, attitudes and attributes; a theoretical and practical understanding of the nature and applications of entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial management; the entrepreneurial organisation; and the nature and processes of innovation and new venture development.  It will also provide students with the skills, knowledge and strategies needed to establish and manage an innovative enterprise by emphasising the application of historical and theoretical constructs to practical, contemporary outcomes.

GBE.803 Enterprise Information Communications Technology (10 credits)

This paper aims to provide students with an understanding of the forms and methods of information communications technology, and with the knowledge of how information is processed and transmitted through electronic means. To develop students' knowledge, skills and ability to communicate effectively, knowledgeably and efficiently and to assist them to identify those communication styles and processes that will best promote optimum communication in business and entrepreneurial contexts.

GBE.804 Business Enterprise Operations: Marketing (10 credits)

This paper develops the theoretical and practical constructs that define business enterprise management, by providing students with a detailed, practically based, understanding of the operational aspects of a new business enterprise.   In particular, students will gain knowledge of marketing strategies for business enterprise; auditing and planning for competitive marketing environments; target marketing and customer profiling, marketing mix strategies (product, pricing, distribution and promotion); strategic analysis tools and marketing intelligence; and marketing growth strategies.

GBE.805 Human Resource Management in Innovation (10 credits)

The aim of this paper is to provide students with high level skills in assessing human resource performance and management issues in the context of new business enterprise, while evaluating factors such as the purpose and role of human management, its core activities, and its function in the establishment, management and expansion of new business ventures.

It also aims to provide students with an assured understanding of issues that are crucial to the effective and strategic management of human performance and resources in today's competitive commercial environment.

GBE.806 Financing Enterprise (10 credits)

This paper aims to provide students with a sound grasp of the theory, principles and practice of financial management of business enterprises, including those that are owner operated and controlled.  Emphasis is on finance theory, and the application of this theory to the specific circumstances of new business enterprises.  This paper also aims to familiarise students with practical techniques that will assist in asset management, arranging finance, analysing enterprise performance, and planning the future of the business, and ensuring that the principles of sound financial management are fully understood and recognised as critical to the survival and success of new business enterprises.

GBE.RM Research Methodology (6 credits)

To introduce students to statistical analysis techniques that are commonly applied within a business environment; outline research methodology, design and ethical considerations; and provide a “thinking framework” for formulating a dissertation proposal which will subsequently be developed into a comprehensive, research based, strategic or business plan.

GBE.807 Research Dissertation (120 credits)

The aim of the research dissertation is to allow students to carry out the specific research for which initial planning was completed in paper GBE.RM: Research Methodology.  This enables the student to generate an extended piece of original work that tests his or her ability to, apply accrued skills in research, data collation and analysis, draw valid conclusions, formulate recommendations, and report findings from the investigation in an appropriate academic format that complies with current good practice.

It provides students from any discipline or background with the opportunity to select a topic of choice centred on any innovative business product, service, venture or facility, for which they develop an initial scoping study that is subsequently developed into a comprehensive, research based business or strategic plan.

The dissertation is expected to reflect the cumulative knowledge and skills gained from the taught papers, in particular the application of principles and concepts underpinning entrepreneurship, to a theoretical construct and viable contemporary market model.  It is also expected to reflect the level and depth of original research required at this level, to the degree that it advances both the theoretical bases, as well as the practice, of models of innovation and entrepreneurship.

This paper develops the theoretical and practical constructs that define business enterprise management, by providing students with a detailed, practically based, understanding of the operational aspects of a new business enterprise.   In particular, students will gain knowledge of marketing strategies for business enterprise; auditing and planning for competitive marketing environments; target marketing and customer profiling, marketing mix strategies (product, pricing, distribution and promotion); strategic analysis tools and marketing intelligence; and marketing growth strategies.

Graduates are able to work collaboratively and constructively as entrepreneurs with a range of people, situations and locales.  Graduates bring a highly-focused approach to independent investigation and research, and to innovative ideologies and practices.  Graduates have expertise in six key areas of business operation: business enterprise management; entrepreneurship and innovation; marketing for business enterprise operations; financing enterprise; human resource management in innovation; and enterprise information communications technology, which are further advanced through a paper in research methodology and a one-year research dissertation in business enterprise.  Graduates will be able to work as self-employed practitioners, or pursue national and international professional careers with commercial bodies and agencies. 

Application by Academic Qualification

Applicants in this category will have either graduated with a degree or honours degree in any discipline from a New Zealand tertiary institution accredited to offer qualifications at this level, or graduated with a degree from an overseas tertiary institution, deemed by the Faculty of New Media, Arts and Business Board of Studies to be of equivalent standing.

Special Application

Notwithstanding the above application criteria, in exceptional circumstances an applicant who does not hold a prescribed tertiary qualification may be eligible for special application to the programme if he or she can demonstrate knowledge and skills equivalent to a Bachelor level graduate, and can provide evidence of relevant work experience. Applicants seeking entry under this criterion must also be able to demonstrate that they have the aptitude, commitment and personal skills that suggest the likelihood of successful course completion. In some cases the applicant may have to complete an approved course or programme which is deemed to prepare students for the required academic standard for entry. 

Additional Criteria

In addition, the following requirements apply to all applicants:

Applicants are required to provide two confidential references from people who are able to affirm that the applicant is of good character and reputation.

Applicants are asked to make a confidential declaration as to whether or not they have prior criminal convictions. They are advised at the time of the request for information that a prior conviction may not necessarily exclude them from applying.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - Academic score of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 590 (with an essay score 5.5 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 79 (with a writing score of 21)
Cambridge English Examination - C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176. No less than 169 in each skill.
OET- Minimum of Grade C+ or 300 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 58 with no band score lower than 50
Language Cert - C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with HIGH PASS and no less than Pass in each skill or C2 Mastery IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill
Trinity ISE- ISE III with no less than pass in any band

*New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current.

Every candidate for the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise is required to follow to the satisfaction of the Board of Studies, a programme of study for a minimum period of one and a half years.  The overall programme of study for every candidate requires 186 credits.

Every candidate is required to: Pass six papers totalling 60 credits. Attend the research methodology classes (six credits) and have an approved research proposal. Pass the research dissertation (120 credits).

Students from the Post Graduate Diploma in Business Enterprise may be able to enter the Master of Applied Management programme on a Cross Credit Track depending on their grades.  Please enquire on application of the Master of Applied Management programme.

Classes are held at our Invercargill campus weekdays. Timetabled classes vary from week to week.

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